See all 5 routes on Goose Creek
Kentucky | Eastern Kentucky
Goose CreekJacks / Bowling Branch Bridge Access to Tobacco Road Bridge Ramp
Short Goose Creek split from Jacks / Bowling Branch Bridge Access to Tobacco Road Bridge Ramp. KDFWR documents the exact 2.2-mile public segment, both carry-down bridge accesses, and the official Manchester gauge bands.
Checking current river conditions…
Route location
Loading the route snapshot. This usually takes a few seconds.
Route overview
Trip details
Access rules, camping and seasonal notes.
Permits, camping and season
Access and shuttle
Launch at Jacks / Bowling Branch and take out at Tobacco Road for the short upper lower-Manchester Goose Creek split. Use the Manchester gauge and expect scraping whenever flows sit below KDFWR's 175 to 514 cfs good band.
Access map
Put-in
Jacks / Bowling Branch Bridge AccessBoth endpoints are simple carry-down bridge accesses with limited unpaved parking and no amenities.
Take-out
Tobacco Road Bridge RampThis split starts below the Rawlings / Stinson access so it avoids the upstream low-head-dam warning attached to that Manchester ramp.
Road shuttle
Stage the take-out at Tobacco Road, then drive back upstream to the Jacks / Bowling Branch bridge access. Both accesses are small roadside carry-down sites, so park compactly and fully off the road edge.
Additional access notes
- Goose Creek is a flashy small stream. Rain-driven rises can change the feel quickly even when the gauge was low earlier in the day.
More route and safety guidance
- Use KDFWR's Manchester bands the same day: below 175 cfs or 7.4 ft expect scraping, while above 514 cfs or 8.5 ft the narrow creek and bridge access get less forgiving.
- Use only the KDFWR-listed Jacks and Tobacco Road carry-down accesses, keep vehicles fully off the road edge, and do not rely on private banks for stops or bailouts.
Plan this paddle
Choose your trip times
No account needed. Check the selected access points above, then choose both dates and times. For an overnight paddle, set take-out to the following date.
Times use the selected time zone. Check it against the river’s location before saving or sharing.
Browser plans stay on this device. Sharing opens your device’s share tools or gives you text to copy.
Download GPX Route geometry only; no schedule required.
Conditions
Check how the river is changing and what weather to expect.
Recent trend
Checking preferred range.
Checking trend.
Gauge source
--Checking timestampDetailed weather
Weather
Hourly forecast
Checking weather.
Loading today's forecast.
Next 8 hours
Short-route forecast
Checking the next several hours.
Plan ahead
Tomorrow and the weekend
Forecasts can change. Check current conditions again before leaving.
Waiting on forecast.
Waiting on forecast.
Station details and river cameras
Station observations
USGS measurements
Measurement notes and coverage
These are observations at the station. Water depth and current can differ along your trip.
River camera · USGS
View at the gauge
Goose Creek at Manchester, KY. This view may be outside your paddling reach. Images are periodic and do not establish safe conditions.
Photos and recent reports
Look for recent access, obstruction and hazard observations. Context photos may show a different part of the river.
Paddler reports
Recent notes from paddlers
A few quick notes from people who were on this route recently.
Share a recent access update, hazard observation or photo.
Sources and methodology
Review source dates and published guidance below. We have not inspected this trip in person.
Why this scoreData reliability: checking
This rating reflects whether the gauge measures this part of the river, whether published water-level guidance is available, and how recently the data was updated.
- Checking data sources and update times.
- Checking evidence cautions.
Data behind the scoreWater levels, published guidance and update times
These readings and published water-level limits help explain today’s score.
| Gauge site | Goose Creek at Manchester, KY |
| Discharge | Checking |
| Gauge height | Checking |
| 24h trend | Checking |
| 24h change | Checking |
| Current band | Checking |
| Rain last 24h | Checking |
| Rain last 72h | Checking |
| Air temp | Checking |
| Water temp | Checking |
| Wind | Checking |
| Gusts | Checking |
| Rain timing | Checking |
| Preferred range | 175 cfs to 514 cfs |
| Low threshold | 175 cfs |
| High threshold | 514 cfs |
| Evidence strength behind the range | Official data source |
| Gauge observed | Checking |
| Paddle Today updated | Checking |
| Main source behind this score | KDFWR recommended river levels for Goose Creek at Manchester |
| Gauge source | Checking |
| Weather source | Checking |
| Rainfall source | Checking |
NotesPublished evidence and verification notes
These notes cover the access details, route quirks, and source caveats most likely to matter once you get there.
- Official route segmentJacks/Bowling Branch Bridge Access to Tobacco Road Bridge Ramp, 2.2 mi
KDFWR lists Jacks/Bowling Branch Bridge Access to Tobacco Road Bridge Ramp as a 2.2-mile Goose Creek segment in the access-mileage table.
- Official level band175-514 cfs / 7.4-8.5 ft good
KDFWR rates Goose Creek at Manchester as Low below 175 cfs or 7.4 ft, Good from 175 to 514 cfs or 7.4 to 8.5 ft, and High above 514 cfs or 8.5 ft.
- Put-in accessJacks/Bowling Branch Bridge Access, 37.2052, -83.7372
KDFWR identifies Jacks/Bowling Branch as a year-round carry-down access with unpaved parking and no amenities.
- Take-out accessTobacco Road Bridge Ramp, 37.2163, -83.7175
KDFWR identifies Tobacco Road Bridge Access as a year-round carry-down access under the bridge with unpaved parking and no amenities.
- Gauge check during route review · July 11, 2026USGS 03281100 at 19.9 cfs / 6.02 ft
This reading was saved when we checked the guide. It is not today’s water level. Check the current gauge and local conditions before paddling.
- Route characterShort shallow creek split below the upstream dam warning
KDFWR's Goose Creek page describes a relatively shallow stream with riffles, pools, and rock bars. Starting at Jacks keeps this split below the Rawlings/Stinson low-head-dam warning attached to the upstream access.
Verify it yourselfCheck the source links
Use these links to double-check the gauge, route details, and access notes before you head out.
Other routes nearby
More on Goose Creek
All 5Nearby routes within 75 miles
Flag a change
See something outdated?
Access, hazards, wood, and shuttle details change. Send a quick correction if something looks off.